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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 2h

Species spotlight: the Pinocchio Hoverfly One of our favourite hoverflies has a rather unusual feature: a long ‘nose’! The larvae of Pinocchio Hoverflies (Rhingia campestris) develop in cow dung. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Painted Lady is a great long-distance traveller. Every year, these butterflies migrate north from areas including North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, travelling through Europe before reaching Britain and Ireland. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Our 2026 pollinator surveys are well underway! We’re now around halfway through our fourth and final survey round. It’s still too early to reveal the full results, but we’ve already seen some species appearing in greater numbers than in previous years. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Found a tired bee? Put down the honey! It might seem like the obvious thing to offer a struggling bee, but honey can contain pathogens that are harmful to bees. Instead, if a bee needs a helping hand, offer a little sugar water, or even better, place it somewhere on a flower. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Species spotlight: Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum is one of the UK’s most familiar bumblebees but its appearance can be quite variable. Some individuals can look very similar to two much rarer species: the Brown-banded Carder Bee (B. humilis) and Moss Carder Bee (B. muscorum). #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Discover Clerkenwell’s Pollinator Path! Join us on 22 September at 3pm for an afternoon exploring the links between plants, pollinators and people. We’ll visit two gardens, including St John’s ancient physic garden, and take a guided tour of the Museum of the Order of St John.

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Some of our most familiar butterflies, including peacocks and small tortoiseshells, depend on stinging nettles. Adult butterflies visit other plants for nectar, but their caterpillars need host plants. No nettles can mean fewer butterflies. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

PLT is a charity, and donations help support the work we do for pollinators across London. From surveys and events to advice and education, every contribution helps us keep going. You can donate via our website. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Hummingbird hawkmoths are not hummingbirds, and they’re not hawks either, they’re moths. You’d probably do a double take if you saw one of these hover at flowers, using their long tongues to feed on nectar. We’ve seen plenty this year, always a nice one to come across. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Have you ever tried a FIT Count? Flower-Insect Timed Counts are simple 10-minute surveys that help build a picture of which insects are visiting flowers, and where. They’re really easy to do and can be quite fun too! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Meet the Batman hoverfly: Myathropa florea. This striking hoverfly gets its common name from the dark, bat-like marking on its thorax. Once you’ve seen it, you won’t unsee it. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Seeing bumblebee queens again in late summer? In some species, a second generation may be emerging. Not every queen you spot is fresh out of hibernation, some are part of the next wave of summer activity. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Seen swarms of flying ants lately? Odds are its “flying ant day”, a natural mating event. While they don’t pollinate as well as bees do, ants do visit flowers! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Not much longer left to wait! On 13th July, we’re holding our Annual Pollinator Count and Seminar. Join the count, hear about this year’s findings, and help shape the future of pollinator conservation in London. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

On 13th July, we’re holding our Annual Pollinator Count and Seminar. Join the count, hear about this year’s findings, and help shape the future of pollinator conservation in London. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Spotted a spiky little bug on your plants? It might be a ladybird larva! They look totally different from adults but are great garden helpers, eating aphids by the dozen. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Bees Needs Week is around the corner! It’s a great time to plant, learn, and act for our buzzing friends. Have a look on our website for tips and activities! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

If you’ve spotted neat circular holes in your rose leaves, it could be the handiwork of a leafcutter bee. These bees cut leaf pieces to build their nests, building cells for an egg, pollen and nectar. A packed lunch for the next generation. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Get ready for the Annual Pollinator Count 2026! On the 13th of July help us track the buzz and monitor pollinator health in London. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

What’s your favourite plant blooming right now? Share what’s on display in your garden or local park, we love hearing about your seasonal standouts! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Did you know many hoverflies can be identified by a “spurious vein” on their wings? It isn’t a true vein, but a fold that looks like one. It’s a useful clue for recognising many UK hoverfly species. Though it might not be easy to see out and about! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Nasturtiums are a brilliant addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. Their bright flowers attract pollinators, and all parts of the plant are edible too. Beautiful, useful, and bee-friendly! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Did you know its World Bee Day today? Bees pollinate many of the plants we rely on for food and healthy ecosystems. Over the next few weeks, take a moment to notice the busy bees around you. #WorldBeeDay #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Leafcutter bees are brilliant pollinators. Many species have males that sport enlarged front feet, used during courtship and mating. Keep an eye out for these bees in gardens and green spaces this spring, they are around! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The Private Life of Plants (1995), presented by David Attenborough, reveals how flowers attract pollinators using colour, scent, and even deception. Episode 3, “Flowering” especially shows some interesting plant-pollinator interactions. #Attenborough100 #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Life in the Undergrowth, presented by David Attenborough, explores the hidden world of invertebrates. It brings behaviours like bumblebee colony life and pollination into focus, showing processes we rarely get to see up close. #Attenborough100 #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Sir David Attenborough is Vice-President of Fauna & Flora, a global conservation organisation working in 40+ countries to protect species and habitats. Their work includes supporting pollinators and the ecosystems they depend on. #Attenborough100 #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

In the UK, most pollinators are insects, but in other parts of the world, vertebrates also do the job. The Green Planet shows how different ecosystems rely on very different pollinators, including some cool footage of pollinating bats. #Attenborough100 #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Celebrating 100 years of Sir David Attenborough! A lifetime spent showing why nature matters and why protecting pollinators has never been more important. We’ll be sharing a few of his pollinator highlights this week. #Attenborough100 📸 DFAT / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Some pollinators are more efficient at pollinating certain crops than the global default, the honeybee. That can be due to the location of the pollen collecting hairs. Megachilid (leafcutter) bees have them underneath the abdomen vs on the hind legs of a honeybee. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Not all roses are equal for pollinators. Open, simple flowers offer accessible pollen and nectar, while heavily bred double varieties often provide very little. Plant choice can make a real difference for pollinator support. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Spotted small mounds of soil on a path? You may have seen bee “tumuli”, little piles left behind when ground-nesting bees dig their nests. These ones here were found on a footpath in an apple orchard. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Pollinators are vital for food production. Around 1 in 3 bites we eat depends on them. That includes foods you might not expect, like chocolate and vanilla. Protecting pollinators means protecting our food systems. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Bee-flies (Bombylius major) are parasites of ground-nesting solitary bees. They lay eggs near nest entrances; once hatched, the larva sneaks inside and consumes the host’s food stores. Have you seen any this year? #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

That’s another great annual meeting wrapped up! Thanks to everyone who joined us, always a pleasure to catch up. We hope you left feeling inspired and connected, with fresh ideas to support pollinators. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Andrena bicolor is a teeny tiny solitary bee that you can spot early in the year. The females are about 9-11 mm! They are fairly common, and can have two generations per year. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Willow trees are a great source of pollen. Some bees, such as Andrena clarkella, exclusively visit willow flowers. Females of this species are slightly larger than a honeybee but look otherwise quite different. They’ve got a gingery thorax with black haired abdomen. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

You can typically spot queens of the Early Bumblebee from March onwards. These common bees can be recognised by their orange bum and yellow bands. They are a relatively small species. Have you seen any this year? Picture: @gallenbees.bsky.social #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Join the Pollinating London Together Annual Meeting on 30 March (5:30–8:30 PM) at Tower Suites. Reflect on the past year, explore 2025 survey findings, hear future plans, and connect with others working for a greener London. Free to attend! More info on the website. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Hairy footed flower bees are out and about, often one of the first solitary bees you can see in the year. They prefer to forage on long flowers such as lungwort. The females are all black with red hairs on the hind legs, the males are brown with hairy middle legs. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Did you know? Every part of the daffodil is poisonous to humans? However they also contain galantamine, a compound used in drugs that slow the progression of Alzheimers disease. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

The Narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris) is a bumblebee mimicking hoverfly that can be a pest of flowers like daffodils. This is as larvae, the adults don’t mess with the bulbs. These fluffy flies have a small triangle on the hind leg as an identifying feature. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

While we're wrapped up, it’s summer for the blue-banded bee (Amegilla spp) in Australia! Despite the name, not all blue-banded bees are blue. Some have white or green bands for example. Gotta love common names! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

The Adonis Blue butterfly is currently overwintering as a tiny caterpillar on chalky grasslands. When they pupate, they will be carried underground by ants into the safety of their nests. Here they will be tended/milked until they come out as adult butterflies. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

🌿🐝 New Monthly Blog: Creating Pollinator Habitat in Wintertime How winter actions can support bees, butterflies, hoverflies and more. Practical ideas for gardeners, communities and businesses to help pollinators thrive year-round. Find it on the website! #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

You can, and maybe should, start some flowers indoors now for spring blooms! Think of sweet peas, begonias & geraniums. You can find pollinator friendly planting suggestions on our website. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

We’re excited to welcome our new PLT Ambassadors! They are leaders from within our partner organisations who have stepped up to champion urban biodiversity. We will start introducing them soon. Look out for the official Ambassador logo on email signatures across the City. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Did you know the City of London is a haven for wild bees? Our 2024 surveys recorded 8 different bumblebee species, 39 species of solitary bee, and 27 hoverfly species right here in the Square Mile! Not much longer to wait until we share our results from last year! Stay tuned… #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Up to 4 billion hoverflies migrate to and from Britain each year! They head south in autumn and wait for the right winds to carry them between Britain and mainland Europe. #PollinatingLT

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Pollinating London Together @pollinatinglt.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Responding to the urge to tidy the garden? Resist! Hollow stems and leaf piles are great spots for overwintering insects. By leaving the "mess" until spring, you’re not disturbing the next generation of beneficial insects. #PollinatingLT

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